Written Answers Wednesday 11 February 2009

Scottish Executive

Employment

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what it predicts that the growth in green jobs will be in each of the next five years.

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20171 on 5 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Employment

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the green jobs strategy introduced by the previous administration and what targets the Scottish Government aspires to for growth in the green job sector, including renewable energy.

Jim Mather: The Green Jobs Strategy was published in June 2005 and implemented under the previous administration. A fresh approach has been taken by this Scottish Government under the Government Economic Strategy, which sets out how we will achieve our overall purpose "to create a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth". Delivery is underpinned by a national performance framework of strategic targets, outcomes and indicators, including the Greener Strategic Objective "to improve Scotland’s natural and built environment and the sustainable use and enjoyment of it".

  On 2 February we announced ten energy pledges, aimed at ensuring that Scotland gains maximum economic advantage from the move towards a low-carbon economy, including jobs in renewable energy, energy efficiency and clean fossil fuel technology.

Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Life Begins health checks for people over 40 have been performed in 2008-09, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: We are currently developing our proposals for Life Begins health checks, which are likely to involve telephone and web-based self assessment and follow up support for those people who identify themselves as being at higher risk. We will make a detailed announcement in due course.

Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many inspections have been carried out by the Care Environment Inspectorate since November 2008; where they have been carried out, and what conclusions have been reached.

Nicola Sturgeon: The NHS Care Environment Inspectorate will provide robust, external inspection of NHS facilities, including unannounced visits. This is intended to enhance safety, assurance and public confidence.

  Following a period of consultation which closed on 12 December 2008, the NHS Care Environment Inspectorate is now being established with the intent that it will be operational from April 2009. Accordingly, there have been no inspections since November 2008.

Justice

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether individuals and officers with diplomatic immunity receive a written or verbal reprimand or notification when they are alleged to have committed road traffic or vehicle offences in Scotland.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities and law enforcement agencies have discretion on whether and how individuals with diplomatic immunity are reprimanded or notified when they are alleged to have committed road traffic or vehicle offences.

Kenny MacAskill: If a member of any diplomatic mission is alleged to have committed a road traffic or vehicle offence, the relevant police force should notify the Diplomatic Protection Group of the Metropolitan Police, who will then report it to the Protocol Directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). The FCO would then take the appropriate action.

  For a minor offence, this is usually a formal letter to the relevant mission, bringing the alleged offence to their attention and reminding them of their duty to obey the laws of the UK.

  For more serious offences, consideration will be given to making a formal request for immunity to be waived.

Justice

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many people based in Scotland hold diplomatic immunity.

Kenny MacAskill: There are approximately 24,000 individuals entitled to some form of diplomatic privilege and immunity in the UK.

  The detailed information requested is currently being collated. I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47566).

Justice

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings of the Victim Steering Group have taken place since May 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: The principal role of the Victim Steering Group was to oversee the implementation of Scottish Strategy for Victims and the related action plan. Since the key elements of the action plan have been implemented the function of the group has been fulfilled and consequently there have been no meetings of the group since May 2007.

Justice

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current strategy is of the Victim Steering Group.

Kenny MacAskill: The Victim Steering Group was instrumental in producing the Scottish Strategy for Victims . The main elements of the strategy have been implemented, including the extension of the Victim Notification Scheme and the introduction of the Victim Statement Scheme. The strategy is currently being reviewed and this is examining how best to engage victims and victims organisations in policy development and service delivery. Any future role for the Victim Steering Group will be considered as part of this examination.

Justice

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are circumstances under which Scottish ministers can exercise discretion on whether a defendant is held on remand and, if so, what they are.

Kenny MacAskill: No. Decisions on remand are for the courts, not for the Scottish ministers.

Local Government

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the (a) size of population, (b) number of staff employed and (c) ratio of local authority employees to head of population in each local authority.

Jim Mather: The information requested is set out in the following table. Part (a) shows the latest estimate of working age population (males aged 16 to 64 and females aged 16 to 59) by local authority. Part (b) shows the latest statistics on the number of staff employed by each local authority. This includes both full-time and part-time staff.

  Care should be taken when comparing local authority staff levels to the working age population as some members of local authority staff may work beyond standard working age.

  Table 1: Working Age Population, Local Authority Staff and Ratio of Staff to Working Age Population by Local Authority

  

 Local Authority
 (a) Size of Working Age Population (2007)
 (b) Staff Employed Local Authority (Head Count) 2008 (Q3)
 (c) Ratio of Staff to Working Age Population


 Aberdeen City 
 138,793
 11,492
 1 in 12


 Aberdeenshire
 148,042
 13,831
 1 in 11


 Angus
 64,938
 5,765
 1 in 11


 Argyll and Bute
 54,002
 5,271
 1 in 10


 Clackmannanshire
 31,176
 2,869
 1 in 11


 Dumfries and Galloway
 86,138
 8,214
 1 in 10


 Dundee City 
 88,929
 8,267
 1 in 11


 East Ayrshire
 73,746
 6,789
 1 in 11


 East Dunbartonshire 
 63,129
 4,935
 1 in 13


 East Lothian 
 56,129
 4,902
 1 in 11


 East Renfrewshire 
 53,078
 4,796
 1 in 11


 Edinburgh, City of
 318,108
 20,116
 1 in 16


 Eilean Siar
 15,354
 2,559
 1 in 6


 Falkirk 
 94,225
 8,010
 1 in 12


 Fife 
 222,954
 22,454
 1 in 10


 Glasgow City 
 388,537
 31,841
 1 in 12


 Highland 
 132,067
 12,726
 1 in 10


 Inverclyde
 49,996
 4,760
 1 in 11


 Midlothian 
 48,666
 4,734
 1 in 10


 Moray
 52,615
 5,121
 1 in 10


 North Ayrshire
 82,188
 7,454
 1 in 11


 North Lanarkshire 
 204,418
 17,884
 1 in 11


 Orkney Islands 
 11,937
 2,137
 1 in 6


 Perth and Kinross
 84,773
 6,084
 1 in 14


 Renfrewshire
 106,034
 8,844
 1 in 12


 Scottish Borders
 65,745
 5,774
 1 in 11


 Shetland Islands 
 13,425
 3,825
 1 in 4


 South Ayrshire
 66,165
 5,654
 1 in 12


 South Lanarkshire 
 192,773
 15,795
 1 in 12


 Stirling 
 54,367
 4,440
 1 in 12


 West Dunbartonshire 
 57,287
 6,266
 1 in 9


 West Lothian 
 106,858
 8,419
 1 in 13



  Source:(a) General Register Office for Scotland – Mid Year Population Estimates (June 2007).

  (b) Scottish Government – Joint Staffing Watch Survey – Quarter 3 2008 (September 2008).

NHS Hospitals

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to apply sanctions to companies that operate private parking facilities at hospitals without taking account of the reduction to the standard rate of VAT announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24 November 2008.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is understood that there are three such parking facilities, as noted below:

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh - officials in NHS Lothian are in discussion with their PFI contractor about how the reduction to the standard rate of VAT can be implemented;

  Glasgow Royal Infirmary – officials in NHS Greater Glasgow are in discussion with their PFI contractor about how the reduction to the standard rate of VAT can be implemented, and

  Ninewells Hospital, Dundee – as the car parking charge is rounded to the nearest 10p, the reduction to the standard rate of VAT did not change the level of car parking charge.

NHS Services

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pain clinics there are, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: The information on pain clinics, which comes from NHS boards, is as follows:

  NHS Ayrshire and Arran holds four clinics and three treatment sessions per week for pain management.

  NHS Borders holds one pain clinic for new referrals three times per week.

  NHS Dumfries and Galloway routinely has two pain clinics per week with regular additional clinics.

  NHS Fife holds five hospital-based clinics per week and three primary care-based sessions per week in West Fife.

  NHS Forth Valley runs one multi-professional clinic over two sites, providing a total of 17 medical sessions per month.

  NHS Grampian holds two pain clinics per week.

  NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde holds 26 general out-patient pain clinics and one specialist clinic for spinal cord stimulation per week. The board also operates a chronic pain Managed Clinical Network (MCN), with Scottish Government pump-priming funding.

  NHS Highland holds three pain clinics per month.

  NHS Lanarkshire holds five consultant-led clinics, three nurse-led clinics and one GP-led clinic per week, as well as an intervention session enabling patients to go to theatre for intervention such as epidurals.

  NHS Lothian holds one clinic daily at the Western General Hospital; full-day clinic every two weeks from the Royal Infirmary, and a pain management programme undertaken over an 11 week period, with daily assessment appointments, at the Astley Ainslie Hospital.

  NHS Orkney holds one pain clinic as and when required.

  NHS Shetland holds two pain clinics per week.

  NHS Tayside holds three clinics at three different locations per week.

  NHS Western Isles holds one pain clinic as and when required.

  In addition, the Pain Association Scotland works with NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, NHS Fife, NHS Forth Valley, NHS Grampian, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Highland, NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Tayside in the delivery of pain management services which help people living with chronic pain to manage their own condition. The association’s training courses in Shetland are delivered using telehealth approaches.

Physical Education

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13230 by Rhona Brankin on 3 June 2008, what action it has taken to ensure that school pupils receive two hours of physical education each week.

Fiona Hyslop: Within Curriculum for Excellence, provision of two hours quality physical education for each child every week is a key element of the health and wellbeing experiences and outcomes which are being finalised for publication later in the year. The experiences and outcomes are being revised to reflect feedback obtained via online questionnaires, school trialling, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events and focus groups. The Health and Wellbeing area within Curriculum for Excellence explicitly reflects our commitment to two hours quality PE for each child every week. Schools will begin to introduce the new curriculum from August this year with full implementation by August 2010.

Public Inquiries

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to public inquiries since May 2007; what the subjects of these inquires have been, and how they have been funded.

Kenny MacAskill: Three inquiries conducted under The Inquiries (Scotland) Rules 2007 (Scottish Statutory Instrument 560/2007) have so far been established under the Inquiries Act 2005.

  These are: the ICL Inquiry into the circumstances leading up to the incident on 11 May 2004 at the premises occupied by the ICL group of companies, Grovepark Mills, Maryhill, Glasgow; the Fingerprint Inquiry into the steps that were taken to identify and verify the fingerprints associated with, and leading up to, the case of HM Advocate v. McKie in 1999, and the Penrose Inquiry into the circumstances of HIV and Hepatitis C being transmitted through blood products in Scotland.

  Section 17 of the 2005 act requires both that the procedure and conduct of an inquiry are to be such as the chairman of the inquiry may direct and that, in making any decision as to the procedure or conduct of an inquiry, the chairman must act with regard to the need to avoid any unnecessary cost (whether to public funds or to witnesses or others). Section 39 of the 2005 act requires ministers to pay inquiry expenses, subject to certain limitations.

  Funding requirements of any Inquiries established under the 2005 act are thus determined to a great extent by the directions of the chairman on an inquiry’s procedure and conduct, which may vary greatly. The full expense is required to be met by a re-prioritisation of resources from within existing programmes.

  Specific financial provisions made for the Penrose Inquiry are described in response to the answer to question S3W-19572 on 23 January 2009.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were employed (a) directly and (b) indirectly in the renewable energy industry in each of the last five years, also broken down by sector.

Jim Mather: This information is not held centrally.

  The Scottish Government’s Renewable Energy Action Plan will include an analysis of economic development opportunities and future potential for growth across the renewable energy sector. The Scottish Government will work with Scottish Enterprise on commissioning a study to establish a baseline for employment in the sector.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were employed in green jobs excluding renewable energy and waste management but including biofuels, construction and sustainable design, organic farming, eco-tourism and outdoor recreation, cleaner technologies and carbon sequestration, and consultancy and energy audits in each of the last five years.

Jim Mather: The information requested is not held centrally.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive by how much the renewable energy sector has grown in each of the last five years, also broken down by sector.

Jim Mather: As a key indicator for the growth of the renewables sector, the following table shows figures for electricity generation from renewable sources in Scotland for each of the last five years, broken down fuel source. This information is taken from the September 2008 edition of Energy Trends , published by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (now Department of Energy and Climate Change) and available online at:

  www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/energy/statistics/publications/trends/index.html.

  Electricity Generated from Renewable Sources in Scotland, in Gigawatt Hours (GWh)

  

 Year
 Hydro
 Wind and Wave
 Landfill Gas
 Other Biofuels1
 Total Renewables2


 2003
 2,902.0
 448.9
 228.0
 145.5
 3,724.5


 2004
 4,474.8
 848.4
 339.2
 169.8
 5,832.2


 2005
 4,612.2
 1,280.9
 395.4
 197.2
 6,485.6


 2006
 4,224.9
 2,022.9
 424.0
 291.2
 6,963.0


 2007
 4,697.3
 2,644.0
 486.5
 398.4
 8,226.2



  Notes:

  1. Other biofuels includes biofuels co-fired with fossil fuels.

  2. Components may not add exactly to totals because of rounding.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what it predicts the growth of the renewable energy sector will be in each of the next five years, also broken down by sector.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has set a target to generate 50% of Scotland’s electricity demand from renewable sources by 2020, with an interim milestone of 31% by 2011. The renewables capacity installed, consented and under construction now exceeds the capacity we estimate will be necessary to meet the 2011 milestone. The targets are not broken down by sector.

  Our Renewable Energy Action Plan will be published in the summer and will set out our strategic vision for the development to 2020 of key areas of the renewables sector.